Incentives

Raleigh offers various incentives to eligible businesses relocating or expanding in the community.

City of Raleigh Grants

Business Investment Grant (BIG)

The Business Investment Grant (BIG)is a discretionary incentive program that provides cash grants to new and existing businesses that will provide economic benefits to the City of Raleigh, are competitive with other locations, and need the grant to carry out the project in the City. Grants are based on new job creation and new ad valorem taxable investment made by companies.

Building Up-fit Grant (BUG)

Economic Development is a priority for the Raleigh community and its residents. Attracting new business and expanding existing businesses in the city is a part of this goal. The City of Raleigh'sBuilding Up-fit Grant encourages growth and development by assisting property owners and businesses with improvements, renovations, and/or additions to their interior spaces.

The City of Raleigh will be holding pre-application meetings and accepting applications for the Building Up-fit Grant during the grant cycles listed below. Please note that all applicants must participate in a pre-application screening to determine their eligibility to proceed with the Building Up-fit Grant Application. All completed applications and supporting documentation must be submitted by the close of business on the last day of the grant cycle.

Applications can be delivered to the Office of Economic Development located at One Exchange Plaza, Suite 727 or emailed to Tiffany McNeill at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. copying Amanda Driscoll at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Submitted applications are reviewed by the Building Up-fit Review Committee for approval. The tentative meeting dates for FY2018 - FY2019 are:

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Thursday, February 28, 2019

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Impact Partner Grant

What is an Impact Partner Grant?

The City of Raleigh has placed a priority on helping innovators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses to start, stay, and grow in Raleigh, with an added emphasis on underrepresented entrepreneurs. As such, the City adopted the Impact Partner Grant program to partner with local organizations to create a more equitable and sustainable impact throughout the entire business community in Raleigh. The program provides grants to an Impact Partner to help strengthen, develop, implement, and scale new or existing programs and resources to assist entrepreneurs, small businesses, and the local workforce in Raleigh.

What is an Impact Partner?

For the purpose of the grant, we are using the Kauffman Foundation Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Building Playbook to help inform our definition of an Impact Partner. An Impact Partner, referred to as an Ecosystem Builder in the Kauffman Playbook, is a critical stakeholder within the community who ensures contributes to the success of a healthy, sustainable, and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Ecosystem Builders are creating an invisible infrastructure in their communities to allow entrepreneurs and small business owners to quickly find knowledge and resources they need to succeed. Builders advocate for local entrepreneurs and their companies, bring these entrepreneurs and companies together in collaboration, challenge entrepreneurs to grow, and push everyone forward. Builders are catalysts, connectors, co-creators, and changemakers. Eligible sectors targeted by the program include:

Technology and Internet of Things

Consumer Packaged Goods and Products

Design and Creative Industries

Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals

Social Impact and Social Innovation

Professional Services

Workforce Development

Manufacturing and Distribution

Transportation and Logistics

Retail and retail-related services

Non-Profit (non-religious programs)

jobsRaleigh Grant

The City of Raleigh has placed a priority on helping small businesses start, grow and stay in Raleigh. As such, the City adopted the jobsRaleigh Grantto assist small businesses. The program provides grants to companies based upon the creation of new jobs or retention of jobs within the City of Raleigh. To apply for the jobsRaleigh Grant submit the grant application to Amanda Driscoll at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you have questions regarding the details of this program please feel free to give us a call at 919-996-2596.

Facade Grant Program

The City of Raleigh’s Facade Grant Program helps businesses and property owners in older commercial areas upgrade and improve their building’s exterior appearance. Since the program’s inception in the early 1980s, it has assisted in the rehabilitation of more than 100 buildings, increasing their attractiveness to new customers and contributing a positive influence toward the revitalization of their respective areas. Businesses located in the Priority Areas of Economic Development of Raleigh may use funds for specified exterior building improvements including lighting, signage or awnings, murals, and art. Businesses must adhere to certain design guidelines and have all the necessary approvals to be eligible.

Downtown Raleigh Retail Up-Fit Grant

The Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA) announces a new retail incentive for downtown Raleigh retailers, including a new Retail Up-fit Grant. The grant will be available to new soft-goods retailers looking to open in downtown Raleigh. One of DRA’s most core priorities is to assist filling all street-level storefront spaces with retail and helping aspiring entrepreneurs find their place in downtown Raleigh.